Daniels, Lee (Producer). & Daniels, Lee (Director). (2009). Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire [DVD]. United States: LionsGate.
The film Precious was one of the most difficult films I have ever watched. This is a true story about the unimaginable hardships of a young girl. I believe the viewing of this film changed me, as a mother, a person and an educator. At times during the film I wanted to turn it off but I felt that to be cowardly due to the fact that this human being could not turn off her life but she did the unimaginable, she turned her life around.
This film is about a young girl who was abused physically and emotionally and strives to succeed in school with a mother who only cares about getting her welfare check. Through out the film Precious was beaten down but continued to get up and try to maintain herself. Through her hardships with her so called loved ones Precious could not ignore her love for school. She found comfort being in school, possible because when she was a school she was protected from her deranged and psychotic mother. Although at first I was very upset with how she was pushed out of the current high school she was attending as though she was damaged goods. The school acted as though her situation was her fault instead of trying to find out the problem and help Precious solve it. Pushing Precious out of her high school wound up being the best thing for her, she received the one on one attention she deserved. Precious was then able to discover herself in school, who she wanted to be. The alternative school embraced Precious’s passion for school and helped her become a stronger person and turn her life around. Precious not only grew academically but socially, she met life long friends that truly loved her and wanted to help her in turning her life around. Precious was able to overcome the abuse and raise her 2 children in a loving household were they hugged each other and, and she was able to read to her children.
This film depicts a diverse group of underprivileged and abused students who want to make their life better then what they have experienced. A life of survival when everyone else is pushing you back and you keep trying to move forward.
Viewing this film made me aware that you need to make that effort to get to know your students and their families, and do not assume anything. This film definitely changed me and made me aware that these horrible things do happen and I need to be aware that it may happen with some of the students that I encounter. As an instructor I will strive to help my students by getting to know my students and their families and try to inspire them by being an effective and motivating teacher. This film was relevant to building a community in the classroom because as an instructor you need to create a safe learning environment to enforce the most effective learning. Without knowing your students and gaining their trust you will have a tough time attaining this sense of safeness. In Precious’s case you would have to break down a wall and then build that trust because this poor student doesn’t know what trust is because she has never experienced it. I do recommend this to other colleagues and instructors because it opens your eyes to the worst possibilities and the knowledge that this does happen and is happening. As instructors we need to know what we can do to help if a situation like this ever arises. Every student deserves and needs an education and as an educator it is our job to see them through that journey and help become that great person that they were meant to be.
Although this film was very moving it is not one that I would share with any student k through 12. I would share it with college students in the school of education because it would open their eyes to students that they may have in their classroom. I will never forget my experiences in viewing this unbelievable story of a young girl’s struggles and triumphs. I can only hope that I am able to be as effective a teacher as the one in this story.
Precious
Daniels, Lee (Producer). & Daniels, Lee (Director). (2009). Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire [DVD]. United States: LionsGate.
The film Precious was one of the most difficult films I have ever watched. This is a true story about the unimaginable hardships of a young girl. I believe the viewing of this film changed me, as a mother, a person and an educator. At times during the film I wanted to turn it off but I felt that to be cowardly due to the fact that this human being could not turn off her life but she did the unimaginable, she turned her life around.
This film is about a young girl who was abused physically and emotionally and strives to succeed in school with a mother who only cares about getting her welfare check. Through out the film Precious was beaten down but continued to get up and try to maintain herself. Through her hardships with her so called loved ones Precious could not ignore her love for school. She found comfort being in school, possible because when she was a school she was protected from her deranged and psychotic mother. Although at first I was very upset with how she was pushed out of the current high school she was attending as though she was damaged goods. The school acted as though her situation was her fault instead of trying to find out the problem and help Precious solve it. Pushing Precious out of her high school wound up being the best thing for her, she received the one on one attention she deserved. Precious was then able to discover herself in school, who she wanted to be. The alternative school embraced Precious’s passion for school and helped her become a stronger person and turn her life around. Precious not only grew academically but socially, she met life long friends that truly loved her and wanted to help her in turning her life around. Precious was able to overcome the abuse and raise her 2 children in a loving household were they hugged each other and, and she was able to read to her children.
This film depicts a diverse group of underprivileged and abused students who want to make their life better then what they have experienced. A life of survival when everyone else is pushing you back and you keep trying to move forward.
Viewing this film made me aware that you need to make that effort to get to know your students and their families, and do not assume anything. This film definitely changed me and made me aware that these horrible things do happen and I need to be aware that it may happen with some of the students that I encounter. As an instructor I will strive to help my students by getting to know my students and their families and try to inspire them by being an effective and motivating teacher. This film was relevant to building a community in the classroom because as an instructor you need to create a safe learning environment to enforce the most effective learning. Without knowing your students and gaining their trust you will have a tough time attaining this sense of safeness. In Precious’s case you would have to break down a wall and then build that trust because this poor student doesn’t know what trust is because she has never experienced it. I do recommend this to other colleagues and instructors because it opens your eyes to the worst possibilities and the knowledge that this does happen and is happening. As instructors we need to know what we can do to help if a situation like this ever arises. Every student deserves and needs an education and as an educator it is our job to see them through that journey and help become that great person that they were meant to be.
Although this film was very moving it is not one that I would share with any student k through 12. I would share it with college students in the school of education because it would open their eyes to students that they may have in their classroom. I will never forget my experiences in viewing this unbelievable story of a young girl’s struggles and triumphs. I can only hope that I am able to be as effective a teacher as the one in this story.